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Ateneo Science Educators and Researchers in Virtual
Engagement (SERVE) 2020 Ateneo de Manila University
School of Science and Engineering
MS Science Education Program of Biology Department

The Development of Do- It- Yourself Astronomy Kit (DIY) for In- Service Teacher Training

b
a*
Methelyn H. Garzon , Ivan B. Culaba, M.Sc. , and Cornelia C. Soto, Ph.D c

a b
Ateneo de Manila University- School of Science and Engineering Ateneo de Manila University- School of Science
c
and Engineering Ateneo de Manila University- School of Social Sciences
* Corresponding Author: methelyn.garzon@obf.ateneo.edu

ABSTRACT

The creation of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) in 2019 heightened the importance of teaching
astronomy in the basic education. There is an added challenge that the subject should be taught as
mandated in the K-12 Science curriculum guidelines. Therefore, it is imperative that astronomy be primarily
taught through experiential learning and to be supplemented by readings. Since there is a dire lack of
hands-on materials and equipment in local schools today for this kind of learning, it is therefore necessary to
develop low cost and easy to build DIY astronomy kit. In this study the kit was designed to develop the
knowledge, skills and attitudes of in-service teachers in two specific topics: phases of the moon and the
constellations. A local version of the moon phases calculator and a planisphere (adapted from NASA-JPL’s
Moon Phases Calculator and Dominic Ford’s DIY Planisphere, respectively) and instruction sheets, were
developed. Six science teachers from a private institution in Marikina City were purposively chosen to
participate in the study aimed at exploring the effectiveness of the kit for understanding Astronomy. The
school did not have a telescope and other materials, except for books, for teaching astronomy. The teachers
lacked the experience in Astronomy- related activities which affected their confidence in teaching. The
training involved the hands-on construction of the moon phases calculator and the planisphere; drills on
how to use the kits; actual observation of the phases of the moon; and a night time of observing the
constellations. The training showed there were significant improvements in the teachers’ knowledge, skills
and their attitude towards Astronomy, specifically about the moon and the constellations. It is
recommended that this kind of experiential learning be adopted in the teaching of astronomy.

Keywords: Astronomy, Astronomy Education, Planisphere, Moon Phases calculator

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